Southeast Recruiting Spotlight: Rising Florida underclassmen
The headlines and ink go towards the five- and four-stars every season, but there is always a crop of players that colleges have missed on and talents having breakout seasons. In Florida, underclassmen are taking advantage of the playing time turning the spotlight their way with fresh offers getting dropped.
National recruiting analysts Ryan Wright looks at some of the top risers this fall from the Florida high school gridirons.
*****
WRIGHT’S RISERS
Playing that hybrid role off the edge for Carrollwood Day, Solomon Williams has been an enforcer this season. Crashing down on the run and hunting down quarterbacks is an-every-snap thing for Williams. His burst off the snap puts him in the chest of offensive tackles before they set with a bullrush that keeps them off balance.
The summer months saw Williams pick up steam along the recruiting trail and his opportunities have skyrocketed this fall with offers from Florida State, Illinois, Penn State, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Missouri among others.
*****
The big season on the field for Moore is attracting a next level audience in droves. The 2024 three-star is leading his Tampa Catholic squad in receptions (24), yards (556), and receiving scores (7). Adding to his resume, his lone carry went 43 yards for a touchdown.
This fall, Moore has popped over the 20-offer mark with Arizona State, Michigan State, South Carolina, Penn State, and Texas A&M extending scholarships. UCF and Florida State have hosted Moore for games this season.
*****
On a loaded Tampa Bay Tech team, sophomore Dallas Wilson is making people take notice. The big receiver has team-highs in receptions (19), yards (463), and is second on the squad with four receiving touchdowns. Wilson has helped out on special teams with one punt returned 68 yards and two kickoffs for 61 more all-purpose yards.
Florida A&M was the first to offer Wilson with that dropping in late April. The month of October is a sign of things to come with Penn State, Pitt, Marshall, South Florida, and Colorado extending their opportunities.
*****
Another name rising up college recruiting boards is Peter Pesansky. The strongside end for Tampa’s Jesuit has been beastly this season producing 53 stops with eight sacks and 12 QB hurries in seven games.
With the action on the gridiron, the offers are following. Louisville, Appalachian State, Wake Forest, Coastal Carolina, and Duke have dropped offers. The Fighting Irish hosted Pesansky last weekend for the meeting with Stanford.
*****
Lang has proven to be a do-all skill player for Palmetto High School. Lang can make plays in the pocket and on the outside burning defenses with his hands and speed. The breakout season anticipated over the offseason is coming together this fall. Lang has produced team-highs in receptions (25), yards (372), and touchdowns (4) through seven games.
College coaches began to notice Lang over the summer months with Duke, Indiana, South Carolina, Louisville, Mississippi, and Texas A&M among the offering schools. Expect Lang’s offer sheet to start filling up after the Early Signing Period once teams shift their focus from the 2023 class to the ‘24s.
*****